THE LATE ALEXANDER REID

West Coast Times, Issue 2787, 8 March 1878, Page 2

THE LATE ALEXANDER REID

A short biographical sketch of the lite Alexander lieid, of whose sudden death we were informed by telegraph ytstcruay, may be rend with some interest by his numerous friends in this colony, and will likewise be a means of acquainting his friends aud relatives at Home in what capacities he has been engaged during the past sixteen to seventeen years in this colony.

The deceased was born in June, 1833, and was the eldest son of Mr Peter lieirl, of Wick, newspaper proprietor and publisher. He was educated at the Academy in his native town, and subsequently for several years at the Higb School and College at Edinburgh. Early in life he had acquired a taste for journalism, and at the ago of twenty-one had thoroughly mastered Pitman's system of phonography, and had become a rapid short-hand reporter. II U first experience on the press was in his father's office, that of the John O'Guui Journal, the chief newspaper in the north of {Scotland, which has been published by the same proprietary for tho past halt century. He soon, however, sought a wider field, and his services found engagement on the Morning Advertiser in London. In a year or two he received a more responsible appointment on one of the leading Provincial papers in England, tho Exeter Flying Post. Much to the regret of all connected with th.t office, who made him a handsome presentation on leaving, he received a still more lucrative engagement in America on 'bo Toronto Globe, a daily paper. Here his youth and energy were tested to Uiu uttermost. Long nightly Parliamentary reports and general newspaper work, accompanied as they too frequently are, with insufficient sleep, shortened for a time his most zealous labor and his strong and healthy constitution. After returning to Edinburgh for a few months' ease, he again embarked, in 1860, to Victoria. Mr Eingh George, the manager of the Melbourne Argus, with whom he had spent many of his earliest journalistic days in the same office in the North of Scotland, at once secured his services. AVheu the rush to the Otago foldfields took place in 18b' I, Mr Reid was sent as special correspondent of the Melbourne Argus. In Dunedin, he accepted the appointment of shipping reporter to tbc utago Daily Times, which he held for a length of time in connection with his Melbourne correspondent's duties. These, as most of our readers here are aware, were fruitful times, and a handsome income was easily procurable by journalists of any experience, as indeed was the case with nearly every profession or trade. After Sir Julius Yogel ceased his connection with the Otago Times, Mr Reid, with others of the staff, juined their old chief on the New Zealand Sun, and Mr Lieid carried with him, we believe, to his watery grave, the golden pen and pencilcase presented and suitably inscribed by Sir Julius Yogel, in the capacity of editor, prior to his entering on his distinguished parliamentary career. On auother occasion when the Wellington Independent beiame incged into the New Zealand Times, Mr Reid was telegraphed tor to the coast by Sir Julius Vogcl, who appointed him to the post of responsible editor, a position he occupied for some time, and then he returned to the West CYrst Time*. His first and only venture as part proprietor of a newspaper was in that of the Westland Observer, iv Okarito, which he soou abandoaed to his more persevering part-

ners. The allurements of the first week in that speculation far surpassed the realization of the year. On the coast, he shortly afLer became editor of the Wes;port Times. When holding that office he stood a keen contest to fill the scat vacated by his brother in the Provincial Council of Nelson, and wab successful. During the first session he wai appointed to the Provincial Sxecutive as Gold- fields Secretary. His forte however was newspapers, and nothing else, so when the estimates, with tables of receipts and expenditure and public works had to be considered, he gladly banded over all the honors of being a provincial administrator, with the attendant luxuries of salary and travelling allowances, preferring his less pretentious editorial sanctum in Westport to the provincial buildings of Nelson. Later still he had the editorial management of the Grey River Argus for many months, and subsequently that of the West Coast Times. When Parliament was in session he took a trip to Wellington once or twice, where he acted as special correspondent to one or other, or both of the journals above named, always securing some eugauemeut on the Wellington papers at the same time. For the past twelve months or more, he has held the position of sub-editor of the Christchurch Press, lie had resolved on taking a holiday for a month or so, and with that object was on his way to visit a younger brother in Auckland, who has just returned from a visit lo tbe Old Country. In that mission, sad to relate, he lost his life, as we were i:> formed on Wednesday afternoon by telegraph. We may be allowed to add, that we note with exceeding gratification that our contemporaries to hand have all passed the warmest tributes to his memory. Trie Grey lliver Argus, in an article on his life and career as a journalist, concludes as follows :—": — " In his private character, Mr illex. Reid endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact, by his genial temper and generous disposition. As a journalist he possessed very great qualifications and bore a i olonial leputation of ability, llis untimely death will, we are sure, be deplored wherever he was known, and by none more than by his brother pressmen throughout New Zealand."